LAKE STEVENS – City officials hope a simple vote is all it will take to trigger a downtown renaissance.
Hoping that “if we pass it, they will build,” the council, at the urging of the Greater Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce, voted to stand behind a downtown development plan.
Details of the plan, which cost the chamber $15,000, will be decided later. The city is now preparing to call for applications from developers.
The chamber’s Lake Stevens Towncenter plan envisions a partnership between the city and developers. The city alone can’t afford to develop downtown, but it can pave the way for developers by streamlining the regulatory process.
“This is pretty significant,” chamber President Linda Divers said Wednesday. “It’s going to hopefully change our community – bring in tourism … bring the economy back up. We’re excited about it.”
The chamber’s plan laid out a variety of development essentials, such as opening access to the lake and making the downtown area an attractive core of the city by providing more parking, activities and longer business hours.
The plan also suggests a mix of office and retail spaces downtown, with some housing above businesses.
The plan also calls for a small waterfront hotel-restaurant, an over-water band shell and a conference center.
The council didn’t want to adopt specifics, but hopes by endorsing the concept developers will approach the city with specific projects.
Developers are interested, but have been leery of pursuing downtown projects without the council’s endorsement, said Jan Larsen, a chamber member and a businessman. Larsen is building his own downtown office building with apartments above.
“If you do nothing, you will get nothing, and so will we,” Larsen said. “It’s time to quit talking about it and do something.”
The mayor now can issue a request for downtown development proposals.
“The request … is not quite ready for release,” Mayor Lynn Walty said. “But if somebody walks in and says, ‘Hey, I’ve got a proposal for you,’ I’m happy to hear it.”
Businessman Bob Craven said the council’s endorsement of the plan is not enough.
“If all you do is pass this resolution, it won’t be a step (forward),” Craven said. “This is one of those projects that is so critical to the city’s future and those who live here, or would like to live here.”
Success for the plan will require cooperation between the business community, the chamber, service clubs, the city and others, he said.
“There are a lot of high-quality people willing to put their time and money into it,” he said. “But at this point, you really have to provide some leadership instead of naysaying.”
Chamber officials meet in downtown Lake Stevens by choice, but have warned the city that they might move to Frontier Village outside the city. If others followed, the city would risk losing its downtown.
Realtor Greg Torgerson volunteered his services to the city free of charge to help streamline the process.
“This is a huge step,” he said of the council’s vote. “It was a tremendous sigh of relief when you passed that resolution.”
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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